Nilsen



Oct. 25, 1960 A. NILSEN GYPSUM APPLICATOR Filed March 31, 1958 GYPSUM APPLICATOR Alfred Nilsen, Delano, Calif, assignor to Joaquin Agricultural & Engineering Co., Inc., Hanford, Calif, a corporation of California Filed Mar. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 730,033 14 Claims. (Cl. 137-268) This invention has to do with an applicator for dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, or the like, and acts to dispense or discharge such material in a predetermined manner, it being a general object of the invention to provide a dispensing apparatus that is particularly practical, etfective and dependable for applying solid material to a stream of water.

It is highly desirable to apply certain solid materials to irrigating Waters in agriculture, a common application being to dispense gypsum fertilizer or soil conditioner into an irrigating stream. Methods and apparatus heretofore employed have not been altogether satisfactory and usually involve mechanisms having at least several moving parts and which require a driving means, usually in the form of an engine or motor. Apparatus of the type under consideration usually require finely divided material for successful operation and very often become clogged or fouled when said material is not of the exact required condition.

This invention is concerned with an applicator or dispenser for handling solid material or materials as distinguished from liquids and it is particularly useful for the handling of any erosive solid which can be disintegrated and worn away by hydraulic action. That is, the material acted upon by the apparatus that I provide may be in most any condition, whether it be in large bodies such as rock, or lump form, or granular form or powdered form. In practice, gypsum may be handled by the apparatus in an aggregate condition composed of varied sized bodies varying from lumps to fine powder. Further, the moisture content of the material is unimportant and has no adverse effect upon operation of the apparatus, nor do foreign bodies such as hard rocks, etc. In other words, the apparatus of the present invention is operable and adapted to handle erosive material regardless of the physical condition thereof.

It is an object of this invention to provide an applicator for dispensing erosive material into a stream of liquid. With the apparatus that I provide, a batch or load of material is deposited in the apparatus to be acted upon thereby and evenly dispensed into a stream, for example, an irrigating stream.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an applicator for dispensing solid material which avoids the use of moving parts and which operates solely by means of moving fluid. With the apparatus that I provide bydraulic erosion is employed to act upon. the solid erosive material to wear it away in a uniform predetermined manner.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an applicator for dispensing solid erosive material regardless of the particular condition thereof. That is, it makes no difference Whether the said material is to be handled in large pieces or chunks or as a fine powder, or Whether it is dry or wet, or whether it is redundant with foreign particles such as hard rock or sand.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ap- States Patent plicator of the type under consideration that operates without attention to dispense an entire batch or load of material. With the apparatus that I provide the entire batch of material is eaten away hydraulically and discharged into a stream of liquid.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive applicator of the type hereinabove referred to that has a positive predetermined mode of operation that can be depended upon under actual operating conditions.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical embodiment of the applicator of the present invention showing the front, the top and one end thereof. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of the applicator and taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the nozzles that I employ. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention, being a plan view similar to Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a closure strip employed in the structure, as later described.

This invention is concerned with a dispenser for handling solid erosive material or materials regardless of the condition thereof, to discharge said material into a stream, for example, a stream of liquid such as water, at a determinable rate. The only required characteristic of the material to be dispensed is that it be erosive and, therefore, capable of being worn away hydraulically by erosion. Whether or not said material is soluble has no bearing since the apparatus operates satisfactorily in either case. in carrying out the invention, it is merely necessary that said material be eaten away and carried off by one or more streams of fluid.

As illustrated generally in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the gypsum applicator involves, essentially, a body A for receiving a batch of material S, a material support B in the body A and for carrying the batch of material therein,

ing one or more streams of fluid onto the material S within the body A, and various other features as hereinafter described.

The present invention is characterized by the opening C that is in the side of the body A and through which fluid is played onto the material S from the means D and also through which the material S is discharged from the apparatus.

The body A that is provided for receiving the batch of material S is a bin-shaped element having side walls, preferably flat vertically disposed side walls. In the particular case illustrated, the body A is rectangular in plan configuration and has a front wall 10, a back wall 11 and side walls 12 and 13. The walls 10-13 are shown as being reinforced at the top and bottom margins by frames 14 and 15 so that the body will retain its shape under substantial pressures and under handling strains and abuses. In practice, the size of the body can vary greatly depending entirely upon the quantity of material S desired to be stored therein for discharge by the applicator. The particular body A shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings is relatively small in size, and it is to be understood that it may be made of substantially greater capacity, all as circumstances require. In actual practice, I have employed bodies ranging in capacity from SOOpounds to sixty tons.

The material support B that is provided for'carrying the batch of material S within the body A is a plate-like element that closes the bottom end portion of the body A. The support B involves a flat plate 16 joined at its edges tothe walls -13, as by a water-tight flange and suitable fasteners 17. In accordance with the invention, the plate 16 is pitched, somewhat, so that it is slanted downward from the back wall 11 to the front wall it and to the end that fluid will flow by gravity toward the edge of the plate 16 at the wall 10. It will be apparent how material in the body A has supporting engagement with the plate 16.

The material discharge opening C that characterizes the present invention is an elongated slot-like opening or aperture that is formed in the wall of the body A, preferably in the front Wall 10 thereof. In accordance with the invention, the opening C is of limited vertical extent and it is preferably a continuous horizontally disposed opening that is coextensive with the width of the front, and it is adjacent to the bottom plate 16. That is, the opening C is defined by the sides 12 and 13 and by the plate 16, and by a horizontally disposed edge 18 of the front wall 10. In practice, the plate 16 has a lip 19 extending over the lowermost portion of the wall It and through the opening C to establish a drip and so that Water falls away from the front wall 10. It will be apparent that material S deposited in the body A will fill the chamber formed thereby but will not discharge through the narrow slot-shaped opening C, although some small quantity of material may fall through the opening but without adverse efiect. However, when extremely fluid material is to be handled by the structure, a closure strip 40 is placed in the discharge opening C to prevent flow of material through the opening. As shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the strip 40 is perforated at 41, or it may be in the nature of a screen, there being an opening 41 at each nozzle of the eroding means D as later described, So that said means is free to act upon material in the body A by projecting fluid streams through the openings 41.

The eroding means D that is provided for playing fluid onto the material S is a hydraulic means that plays one or more streams of liquid, water, onto the material S within the body A. In accordance with the invention the means D directs said stream or streams through the opening C and onto or into the batch of material to act upon material adjacent the plate 16. Therefore, the means D is positioned at or near the opening C and is shown as involving a liquid supply 20 and one or more nozzles for directing fluid onto the material within the body A.

The particular liquid supply shown in the drawings is in the form of a manifold 21 with a fitting 22 at one end to receive liquid from a hose 23 and with a stand pipe 24 at the other end to establish the desired fluid pressure in the manifold. The manifold 21 is horizontally disposed and lies in front of the opening C where it is held by spaced brackets 26. An overflow fitting 27 is provided in the standpipe 24 and excess liquid therefrom is handled by a hose 28. It will be apparent how the desired fluid pressure can be established by suitably positioning the fitting 27, and so that excess pressure is not developed to adversely affect discharge of the material S. When higher pressures are required than is practical to obtain with a standpipe, as shown, a pressure regulated fluid pressure supply is used.

The nozzle 25, or nozzles, as the case may be, is an orifice fitting that directs a stream of liquid so that it is projected in a jet. As shown, the nozzle 25 faces the opening C and directs slender streams of liquid toward the back portion of the plate 16 adjacent the back wall 11. In order for the nozzles to perform this function they are set at an angle of inclination that establishes a trajectory as indicated by the arrows X and to the end that the liquid, under a given head of pressure, established as above described, reaches the back portion of the plate 16, as indicated. In practice, there is a plurality of nozzles 25 (see Fig. 3), each directing a stream of liquid along a trajectory X and spaced along the front of the body A so that the entire bottom portion of the body is combed by said streams of liquid. It is to be understood that varied types of nozzles may be employed, for exam ple, a nozzle directing a fan-shaped stream when higher fluid pressure is available.

When the applicator is in operation the streams of water soak and eat or gnaw away the material S occupying the bottom portion of the body A. The reaching eifect of the streams of water delivered by the nozzles 25 will vary greatly as said streams undermine and create cavities in the batch of material. Further, it will be understood that there will be tunnels created by the streams, and that the said tunnels will collapse and will be reformed as erosion continues to occur, all to the end that a continuous supply of material S is discharged through the opening C to be carried oif by the overflow of water. The application rate of the structure is controlled by changing the amount of fluid introduced into the unit, this being accomplished by selectively using the desired nozzle, and/or by selectively using the desired number of nozzles, and/ or by selecting the desired fluid pressure.

In order to direct the overflow of water laden with material S, I prefer to provide a trough 30 underlying the front lip 19 of the plate 16. As clearly illustrated, the trough30 also underlies the manifold 20 and nozzles 25 and receives the discharge of the hose 28. The trough may be made to empty into an irrigating stream (not shown) so that the material, in suspension or otherwise carried by the liquid, is carried oif as desired.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings I have illustrated a form of the invention that employs an articulated nozzle 35 in addition to or in place of the nozzles 25. In this form of the invention the nozzle 35 is rotatably carried on a substantially vertical axis and swings through an are (as indicated). Any suitable traversing nozzle, or sprinkler head, may be employed for this purpose, and may be used in place of or in addition to the plurality of nozzles 25 above described.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but Wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body having side walls for receiving a batch of said material, a plate-shaped material support cooperating with said side walls and closing the bottom portion of the body, a material discharge opening of limited vertical extent in one of the side walls of the body and adjacent the plate, the extent of said opening and nature of the material within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity while ex-' posing the same, and an eroding means at the opening and playing a stream of liquid onto the material within the side walls of the body.

2. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid ma-.

terial into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body having flat substantially vertical side walls and for receiving a batch of said material, a plate-shaped material support joined with said sidewalls and closing the bottom portion of the body, an elongate horizontally disposed discharge opening in one of the side walls of the body and adjacent the plate, the extent of said opening and nature of the material Within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity while exposing the same, and an eroding means at the opening and playing a stream of liquid through the opening and onto the material. within the side walls of the body. 7

3. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body having flat substantially vertical side walls and for receiving a batch of said material, a plate-shaped material support joined with said side walls and closing the bottom portion of the body, an elongate horizontally disposed discharge opening coextensive with one of the side walls of the body and adjacent the plate, the extent of said opening and nature of the material within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity while exposing the same, and an eroding means at the opening and playing a stream of liquid through the opening and onto the material within the side walls of the body.

4. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body for receiving a batch of said material, a plate-shaped material support closing the bottom portion of the body and inclined to direct flow to one side of the body, a material discharge opening of limited vertical extent in the side of the body and adjacent the plate, the extent of said opening and nature of the material within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity While exposing the same, and an eroding means at the opening and playing a stream of liquid through the opening and onto the material within the side Walls of the body. I

5. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body having side walls for receiving a batch of said material, a plate-shaped material support cooperating with said side walls and closing the bottom portion of the body and inclined to direct flow toward one side wall of the body, a material discharge opening of limited vertical extent in one of the side walls of the body andadjacent the plate, the extent of said opening and nature of the material within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity while exposing the same, and an eroding means at the opening and playing a stream of liquid through the opening and onto the material within the side walls of the body.

6. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body having fiat substantially vertical side walls and closing the bottom portion of the body and inclined to direct flow toward one side wall of the body, an elongate horizontally disposed discharge opening in one of the side walls of the body and adjacent the plate, the extent of said opening and nature of the material within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity while exposing the same, and an eroding means at the opening and playing a stream of liquid through the opening and onto the material within the side walls of the body.

7. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body with sides for receiv' g a batch of said material, a plate-shaped material support closing the bottom portion of the body, a horizontally disposed material discharge opening in the side of the body and at the lower end portion thereof adjacent the plate, the extent of said opening and nature of the material within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity while exposing the same, and an eroding means at the opening and playing a stream of liquid through the opening and onto the material within the sides of the body.

8. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body with sides for receiving a batch of said material, a plate-shaped material support closing the bottom portion of the body, a horizontally disposed material discharge opening of limited vertical extent in and coextensive with one side of the body and at the lower end portion thereof, the extent of said opening and nature of the material within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity while exposing the same, and an eroding means at the opening and playing a stream of liquid through the opening and onto the material within the sides of the body.

9. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body with sides for receiving a batch of said material, a plate-shaped material support closing the bottom portion of the body, a material discharge opening of limited vertical extent in the side of the body, the extent of said opening and nature of the material within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity while exposing the same, and an eroding means having a nozzle adapted to play a stream of liquid through the opening and over the plate and onto the material within the sides of the body.

10. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body with sides for receiving a batch of said material, a plate-shaped material support closing the bottom portion of the body, a material discharge opening of limited vertical extent in the side of the body, the extent of said opening and nature of the material within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity while exposing the same, and an eroding means having a nozzle with a substantially horizontally disposed axis and adapted to play a stream of liquid through the opening and above the plate and onto the material within the sides of the body.

11. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body with sides for receiving a batch of said material, a plate-shaped material support closing the bottom portion of the body, a material discharge opening of limited vertical extent in the side of the body, the extent of said opening and nature of the material within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity while exposing the same, and an eroding means having a nozzle with an inclined axis and adapted to traject a stream of liquid through the opening and above and across the plate to the opposite side of the body and through and onto the material within the sides of the body.

12. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid ma, terial into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body with sides for receiving a batch of said material, a plate-shaped material support closing the bottom portion of the body, a material discharge opening of limited vertical extent in the side of the body, the extent of said opening and nature of the material within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity while exposing the same, and an eroding means having a manifold carrying a plurality of nozzles adapted to play streams of liquid through the opening and over the plate and onto the material within the sides of the body.

13. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body with sides for receiving a batch of said material, a plate-shaped material support closing the bottom portion of the body, a material discharge opening of limited vertical extent in the side of the body, the extent of said opening and nature of the material within the body being such as to prevent flow of said material therethrough by gravity while exposing the same, and an eroding means having a manifold carrying a plurality of nozzles with substantially horizontally disposed axes and adapted to play a stream of liquid through the opening and above the plate and onto the material within the sides of the body.

14. An apparatus for continuously dispensing solid material into a stream of liquid, including, a bin-shaped body with sides for receiving a batch of said material, a plateshaped material support closing the bottom portion of 7 the body, a material discharge open ng oflimitedwertical extent in the side of the body, the extent 0t said opening and nature of thematerial within the body being such as tolprevent How of said material therethrough by gravity while exposing the same, and an eroding means having a'narticulated nozzle rotatable on a substantially vertically disposed axis and adapted to traverse'a'stream of liquid through an arc and through the opening and above the plate and through and onto the material the body.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Allen Aug. 12, Allen Aug. 18, Barker Aug. 25, Deutsch July 12, Kerr July 26, Lawlor May 1, 

